Air-compressor and motor.



A. REALL.

AIR COMPRESSOR AND MOTOR.

APPLICATION'FILED OCT. 24. 1914. RENEWED NOV. 13.1916.

Patented. June 19, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED OCT. 24, 19M- RENEWED NOV- 13. 1916- h m 2 m H u T J H d w m 2 H m a D1 EH Mm BMW m. K m 9 8w 5 Q3 M 1 an @QE 5 2., .QH g LQNH .5 Wm E 9M, Q Mm N$R Vm 1 m: e T E MNNLN INVENTOR ATTORNEY @TATES PATENT @EFFIQE.

Anrnun nnann, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro REALL ronrannn coi/irnnsson COMPANY, or. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, a oonronarron or DELAVJARE.

AIR-COMPRESSOR AND MOTOR.

Application filed October I To all whom it may concern:

placed under compression is employed for returning the parts of the apparatus to the positions occupied by them at the time power is applied for compressing a further supply of air.

One of the main objects of my invention is .to provide a construction of such character that the employment of fly wheels of the character usually employed is rendered unnecessary. By my invention I provide a construction of motor which retains its efliciency but which is at the same time exceedingly light so that it may be readily transported to points distant from the usual lines of transportation, the development of mining properties it frequently is the case that machinery must be transported for long distances through rough sections of country lacking intransportation facilities. In such cases it is of the greatest importance that there shall be a minimum weight of material to be transported. At the same time, however, it is highly important in the development of a mining property that such machinery shall' be efficient. By the employment of .a machine of the character embodying my inven V tion I conserve and provide for the efficiency of the motor while at the same time reducing the weight thereof to a minimum.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated certain preferred forms of construction embodying the principle of my invention but it should be understood that the same is susceptible of embodiment in other forms of construction within the scope of Specification of Letters Patent.

For instance, in

Patented June is, rate.

1914., Serial No. 868,368. Renewed November 13,1916. Serial No. 131,130.

In the drawings Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view takenon/the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is; a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a machine showing a modified construction embodying the principle of my invention Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4;; and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, '1 designates the cylinder of a gas engine supported upon the pedestal 2 The engine illustrated is a two cycle engine of known type and construction having a piston 3. This piston reciprocates in the cylinder in well .known manner. The inner end of the engine cylinder is closed by means of a plate 4. 5 designates a piston rod having connection with the piston 3 in any desired known manner.

The fuel for operating the engine is introduced into the engine cylinder back of the piston through a fuel supply pipe 6.

The fuel is'in gaseous form as usual and after it has been. introduced it is compressed by the movement of the hollow piston 3 toward the right, having reference to Fig. 1. After the said piston has moved acertain distance toward the right the hole 8 therein reaches the outlet opening or port 9 in the side of the engine cylinder 1. When the hole 8 reaches the port 9 and passes over means of a spring pressedvalve 11. Thisvalve opens as a result of the pressure of the fuel against the rear side thereof. As the fresh fuel enters theportion of the cylinder in front of the'piston head 3 the exhaust gases pass therefrom outwardly through the which includes the battery shown in As a result of the making and- Fig. 1. breaking of this circuit a spark is produced interiorly of the engine so as to ignite the fuel to explode the same in the usual manner.

The connecting rod- 5 projects rearwardly from the explosiveengine through a couple of air cylinders and into a third. To that portion of the connecting. rod which is situated within the first of the said air cylinders 30 a piston 31 is secured Which piston is reciprocated in the cylinder or chamber 30. The said piston is provided with valves 32 which are normally held in closed position by means of the springs 33. When the piston 31 is moved toward the right any air which may be present in the' 'cylinder 30 to the right of said piston 31 is compressed and is forced out through the valve closed opening 34 into the annular chamber and passage-Way 35. A spring 36 tends to hold the valve 34 in closed position. At the time that the pistorr 31 is moving toward the right the spring pressed valves 37 are opened by means of the external air pressure, it being understood, of course, that at such time a partial vacuum is created within the cylinder 30 upon the left hand side of the piston- 31. Y

When the piston 31 is moved to the left by means of the piston rod 5 such air as may have previously entered the cylinder .is slightly compressed so as to open the valves 32 and pass beyond the piston 31 into the cylinder chamber 30 upon the right hand side of the said piston. The air which is forced into the annular passage-way and chamber 35 fills the said chamber and flows therefrom through the opening 40 into the air compression cylinder or chamber 41. The opening 40 is adapted to be closed by means of a valve 42 held normally in closed position by means of a coiled spring 43. The rear-end of the piston rod 5 projects into the chamber 41 and has secured thereto apiston plate or member 44. This plate, of course, moves to the right simultaneously with. the corresponding movement of the piston 31. It is apparent, therefore, that the air passes from the annular chamber 35 into the air compression cylinder or chamber 1 only when the degree of compression of the air in the latter is less than that of the air in the annular chamber 35.

Intermediate the cylinders 30 and 41 I i have provided a third cylinder 46. This cylinder is also provided with a piston or plate 47 carried upon the piston rod 5. The purpose of this cylinder and of the piston therein is to provide means for assisting to return the piston rod 5 and the piston 3 toward the left to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings, at which time a new charge of fuel is brought into the engine cylinder through the fuel supply tube or pipe 6.

It is desirable at the time that the piston 47. is moved toward the right that means he .provided to permit the escape of air from the said cylinder 46 so that a. minimum of resistance will be offered to the movement of the piston 47 in that direction. To accomplish this purpose I have provided the pivoted bell-crank lever 50 which is supported upon a bracket 51 extending upwardly from the cylinder 46. The upwardly projecting arm of the lever is adapted to be engaged by a raised portion 53 upon the reciprocating rod 21. The forward end of this portion 53 isindicated by the dotted lines at 54u It will be seen, therefore, that immediately .upon the beginning of the movement of the rod 21 toward the right this upwardly projecting arm ofthe lever said valve is held in closed position as indicated in Fig. 2 by means of a coiled spring 58 Downward movement of the horizontal arm 56 of the said'bell crank lever 50 causes inward movement of the valve 58 to open the port 60 to permit the air to escape from the chamber '46 when the piston 47 is moved toward the right. It will be seen, \therefore, that any air which may be present in the chamber 46 offers practically no resistance to the movement of the piston 47 and piston rod 5 toward the right.. It will be observed that the chambers 30 and 46 are separated from each other by means of a transversely extending plate 65 which is situated between and is secured to the opposing ends of the said chambers 30 and 46. It will also be observed that the chamber 46 is separated from the chamber 41 by means of the transversely extending plate 66 which is interposed between the adjacent opposing ends of the said chambers 41 and 46.

In order to permit the escape of any air which vmay be present in the cylinders or chambers 41 and 46 between the pistons 44 and 47 and the plates 66 and 65 respectively,

hea ers T have provided the openings 68 formed by the presence of radial grooves in the adjacent ends of the cylinders or chambers 41 and 46.

The compressed air is taken from the alr compression cylinder 41 and is transmitted the said parts, including the piston 3, to the left into the positions indicated in Fi 1 of the drawings. Heretofore it has een the practice to employ heavy fly wheels for that purpose. In order to obviate the necessity of employing such wheels I have provided means whereby the compressed air may be employed or used for that purpose.

The rear or right hand end of the longitudinally reciprocating rod 21 is provided with a raised portion 7 3 which is adapted to '36l contact with the upwardly projecting portion 74 of the bell crank lever which is pivoted at 75. The horizontal portion 76 of this bell crank lever rests upon the upper end of a rod 77 upon the inner lower end 552 of which the valve 42 is carried. As the rod 21 moves toward the right the bell crank lever is moved about its pivot so as to lift the horizontal portion 76 thereof away from the rod 77 but when it moves toward the left i no] the contact of the raised portion 73 with the arm 74 causes a pivotal movement of the bell crank lever in the opposite direction so as to depress the arm 7 6 and open the valve 42. At the same time the raised portion 80 L) upon the reciprocating rod or bar 21 contacts with the upwardly extending portion ing the cylinders 41 and 46 have access to the chamber of the cylinder 46. It will be seen, therefore, that the'compressed air acts upon both the pistons 44 and 47 to ,cause a return movement thereof and of the piston 31, the connecting rod 5 and the piston 3 in the engine cylinder.

In order to prevent the gas engine cylinder and the air compression and expansion cylinder'from becoming too greatly heated T have provided cooling chambers 90 and 91 to which water is introduced through the supply pipe 92 having connection with the chamber 90. From the latter chamber the water is conducted by the pipe 94 to the annular water chamber 91. From the latter it may be conducted or withdrawn through the discharge pipe 95. f v

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 l have shown a modified construction in which two air chambers or cylinders are employed instead of three as in the constructionshown in Figs. 1, 2

and 3. a t

In this modified construction a piston 100 is located within an air cylinder or chamber 101 and is secured upon the connecting rod 5. The left wllfiINl end of the cylinder or chamber 101' is closed by means of a plate 102 haying holes 103 therethrough through which the air has free access to the interior of the cylinder 101 at the left of the piston 100, The only purpose of the plate 102 is to serve as a support or guide for the piston rod 5. As the piston rod 5 and the piston 100 move toward the right any air which may be situated in the cylinder or chamber 101 is permitted to escape through a port 104. This port is normally closed by means of a valve 105 but as the rod 21 is moved toward the right the raised portion 106 thereon contacts with the upwardly project ing arm 107 of the bell crank lever which 81 of the bell crank lever which is pivoted at 82 upon a bracket 83 extending upwardly from the cylinder 46. The contact of the raised portion 80 upon the rod or bar 21 with the portion 81 of the lever, as the said bar moves toward the left, causes clownward movement of the arm 84 of the bell crank lever which is pivoted at 82 to depress the valve 85 and open the port leading into the passage way 86. The positions or locations of the left hand ends of the raised portions 73 and 80 upon the reciprocating 65 41 and in the annular chamber 35 surroundtally extending arm 110 of the said bell crank lever contacts with the upper end of arod 111 to the lower end of which the valve 105 is secured. llt will be seen, therefore, that as the rod 21 moves toward the right the valve 105 is depressed in opposition to the spring 112 so that any air which may be present in the cylinder or chamber 101 is permitted to escape with the result that it ofiers practically no resistance to the movement of the piston 100 toward the right.

115 designates an air compression cylinder from which air is supplied through the pipe 116 to the point where work is to be accomplished. The cylinder or chamber 115 is separated from the cylinder or chamber 101 by means of a plate 117. The adjacent opposing ends of both of the cylinders 101 and 115 are secured "to this plate. It may be noted here that both of the cylinders 101 andd15 are supported upon the pedestal 120.

121 designates a piston which is situated within the cylinder or chamber 115 and which is secured to the inner end of the piston rod 5. As the piston 121is moved toward the right any air which may be present in the cylinder or chamber 115 is compressed; As a result of such compression the valves 122 are opened to permit the passage of air from the cylinder or chamber 115 into the annular chamber 123 through the ports 124. Normally the valves 122 are held in closed position by means of the coiled springs 125- When the piston 121 moves toward the left it will be understood that a partial vacuum is created within the cylinder or chamber 115 so that the external air pressure is 'sufficient to open the spring pressed valves 126 to permit the passage of air through the ports'127 in the piston 121 into the cylinder or chamber 115. The air passes into the portion of the cylinder 115 between the plate 117 and the piston 121 through openings 130 formed in the end of the said cylinder 115 adjacent to the plate 117. i

For the purpose of returning the pistons 100, 121 and the piston rod 5, together with the piston 3 of the engine cylinder, to the left, I providemeans whereby the air under compression in the annular chamber 123 may escape from the latter into the cylinder or chamber 101. To accomplish this I provide a port or opening 135 which is closed normally by a valve 136 said valve being held:

in closed position by means of a spring 137. A bell crank lever pivoted at 138 is provided with an upwardly projecting arm 139 and horizontal arm 140. The reciprocating rod 21 is provided with a raised portion 141 which is adapted to contact with the upwardly projecting portion 139 of the said bell crank lever. As the raised portion 141 moves toward the. right the bell crank lever.

. is moved on its pivot without aifecting the valve 136 but when moved in the opposite direction the horizontal projecting arm 140 of the said bell crank lever is depressed and being in contact with the upper end of the rod 143 depresses the same so as to open the valve 136. -As soon as this valve is opened the air, as a result of expansion, rushes through the passage-way 145 into the chamber 101. Its expansive force is then exerted .upon the rear side of the piston 101 to return the said piston, together with the parts connected therewith, toward the left.

As in the construction shown in Figs. 1

and 3, I provide an annular Water cooling chamber 150 for preventing said cylinders 101 and 115 from becoming over-heated.

It will be understood that in both forms of construction the pistons reciprocate very rapidly and that there is at all times a sufiicient amount of air under compression, and in communication either with the pipe 7 O or meagre the pipe 116 leading to the points where the wor 1s beingdone, to furnish the necessary power to accomplish the work to be done, and also that there is an excess of such compressed airsuflicient to perform the work of compressing the gaseous fuel in the gas engine to such extent as may be required to effect efficiency of operation; also it will be understood that the gas remaining under compression at the right of the pistons when they occupy their extreme right hand positions'is suflicient to start a movement of the pistons to the left before the opening of the valves 42 and 85.

Any suitable known means of starting gas engines may be employed to start the operation of the apparatus embodying my invention. 7

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, means for driving the said pistons in one direction to compress air in one or more of said cylinders, means for conducting a portion of the air so compressed to a point outside of said cylinders, and means whereby a portion of the compressed air is permitted to act upon one or more of said pistonsto drive the samescribed, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, pistons in said cylinders, apower device for driving the said pistons in one direction, means for permitting air under atmospheric pressure into one or more of said cylinders, which air is placed under compression by one or more of the said pistons, means for conducting a portion of the air under compression to-a point outside of the said cylinders, and means for control-- ling the admission of a portion of the said compressed air into another one of the said cylinders for acting upon the piston in said other cylinder for driving the sai d pistons in the opposite direction and for placing the said power device in its initial condition.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an explosive engine having a piston and a piston rod, connected to the latter, a plurality of cylinders 1nto which the said piston rod extends, pistons secured to said piston rod, which pisrea ers tons are situated in the said cylinders, means for admitting air into one or more of said cylinders and compressing the same therein, means for conducting: a portionof the said air to a point outside the said cylinders, and means for permitting a portion thereof to enter another one or more of said cylinders to act upon the piston or pistons therein to return the same to intitial position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, a piston rod extending into the saidcylinders, pistons situated in said cylinders and secured to said piston rod, means for permitting air to enter one of the said cylinders, means for driving the said pistons therein to return the said pistons and ting tons in one direction to compress the air in said cylinder, one or more of the said. cylinders having an annular chamber surrounding the same, means for permitting air under compression to enter the said annular chamber, means for conducting the air from said annular chamber to a point outside of the said cylinder, and means for permitting the air to flow from the said annular chamber to one of the said cylinders for driving the said pistons and piston rod in the opposite direction.

6. In an apparatus of .the character described, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, an explosive engine having a piston and a piston rod, said piston rod pro-,

jecting into the said cylinders, pistons situated in the said cylinders and secured to the said piston rod, means for permitting access of air to one of said cylinders in rear of the piston therein to be compressed thereby when the piston 'rod is driven outwardly by the said explosive engine, one or more of the said cylinders having an annular chamber surrounding the same, means for permitting the air compressed in said cylinder t6" escape into the said annular chamber and means for permitting a portion of the air under compression in the said annular chamber to escape into another one or more of the other of said cylinders to act upon the pisthe piston rod in the opposite direction.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, one of the said cylinders being of greater transverse dimension than the other or others of said cylinders, a rod extending into said cylinders, pistons situated in said cylinders and secured to said rod, means for permitting air at atmospheric pressure to enter the cylinder having the greater transverse dimension, means for driving the said rod and the said pistons in one direction whereby the air which has entered the said cylinder is compressed, means for permitthe escape of the air under compression from sald cylinder of greater transgine-having av piston and a piston rod, a

plurality of cylinders arranged in alinement with the said explosive engine, and into which the said piston rod extends, pistons situated in the said cylinders and being secured to the said piston rod, means whereby air under atmospheric pressure is permitted to enter one of the said cylinders, the air thus admitted being placed under compression by movement of the piston in the said cylinder in one direction, a chamber for receiving the compressed air from said cylinder, passage-ways for conducting the air from said chamber into one or more of the other of said cylinders, valves for closing the said passage-ways, and means having connection w1th the said piston rod for causing actuation of the said valves to open the said passage-ways to permlt the flow of air from said chamber into the said cylinder or cylinders. g

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an explosive engine having a piston and a piston rod, a plurality of cylinders arranged in alinement with the said explosive engine and into which the said piston rod extends, and one of the said cylinders having a greater transverse dimension than the other of said cylinders, means for permitting air under atmospheric pressure to enter the said cylinder having the greater transverse dimension, a chamber for receiving the air from the said cylinder of greater transverse dimension, means for conducting the air from said chamber to a point or points outside of said cylinders, a passage-way leading from the said chamber to another one of the said cylinders of smaller transverse dimension, a valve vfor closing the said passage-way; and means having connection with the said piston rod and reciprocating therewith for causing thev opening of said valve to permit the passage of a portion of the air under compression in said chamber into the. said cylinder'ofiime arranged in alinement with each ot er, one.

of the said cylinders being of greater transversearea than the other of said cylinders,

a rod extending into said cylinders, pistons situated in said cylinders and connected to said rod, means for permitting air under at mospheric pressure to enter the cylinder haning the greater transverse area, means for driving the said rod and the said pistons in one direction whereby the air which has entered the said cylinder is compressed, a chamber surrounding the others of said cylinders, means for permitting the air compressed in the cylinder having the greater transverse area to escape into the said chamber, means for conducting a portion of the air so compressed to a point outside of the said cylinders, passageways leading from the said chamber to each of the other cylinders, valves for closing the said passageways, a bar having connection with the said 11. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of an explosive engine having a piston and a piston rod, a plurality of cylinders into which the said piston rod extends, one of the said cylinders having a transverse area greater than that of the transverse area of the other cylinder or cylinders, a bar having rigid connection with the said piston rod and supported in parallel relation to the said cylinders, said bar reciprocating with the said piston rod, pistons in the said, cylinders,

whichpistons are secured to the said piston rod, means for permitting air under atmospheric pressure to enter the said cylinder having the greater dimension, a chamber nasaare surrounding the other of said cylinders, \means for permitting the air under compres sion to enter the said chamber,'means for permitting the air to escape from the said other cylinder when the air in the firstby the latter is opened to permit the pas sage of a portion of the air under compression from said chamber into the said chamber having the smaller transverse area to act upon the piston therein to return the same together with the piston rod in the opposite direction to that in which the same travels to compress the air in the cylinder having the greater transverse area.

12. The combination of an internal combustion engine having a piston, an air compressor comprising a plurality of cylinders, pistons operating in said cylinders, a piston rod connecting the said pistons in the said cylinders with the piston in said engine, and means whereby air under compression in the said cylinders causes return movement of the said pistonsto compress the gas with which the said engine has been charged.'

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 23rd day of October, A. D. 1914:.

ARTHUR REALL.

In the presence of- E. W. SMITH, C. E. KLEINFELDER. 

